Knockoff mechanism for phonographs



June 27, 1944. QFFEN 2,352,561

KNOCK-OFF MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 27, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet l wo Mm & REPRODUCING June 27, 1944.

KNOCK-OFF MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 27, 1942 '7 Sheets-SheetZ FIG.Z

* www My F. J. OFFEN 2,352,561

LI!- JUUWU HLbUnUIHu vuulvll l u & REPRODUCING June 27, 1944. F. J. OFFEN 2,352,561

KNOCK-OFF MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 27, 1942 I v Sheets-Sheet 4 [76. 5 66 INVENTOR.

BY 2 ATTORNEY &.RPPfenm1mNn June 27, 1944. F. J. OFFEN KNOCK-OFF MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 27, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

IN VEN TOR. W 9

81 RFPRUDUNNG June 27, 1944. J OFFEN 2,352,561

KNOCK-OFF MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 27, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR.

& RKPRODUNNG June 27, 1944. F. J. OFFEN KNOCK-OFF MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 27, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 RECORD CHANGER MOTOR IN VEN TOR.

4 TTORNE) it REPRODUUNG Patented June 27, 1944 KNOCKOFF MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Francis John Oifen, Swindon, England, assignor to Garrard Engineering 8; Manufacturing Company, Limited, Swindon, England, a corporation of Great Britain Application August 27, 1942, Serial No. 456,440

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrically operated sound reproducing machines or phonographs and is more particularly directed to mechanism adapted to function automatically for stopping the operation of the machine or phonograph, when a predetermined number of records have been reproduced.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved automatic stop mechanism for electrically driven phonographs and other sound reproducing machines, which may be employed in conjunction with different types of machines, designed for reproducing either single or double faced records, singly or serially, as where a number of records may be arranged in the apparatus for successive reproduction.

More specifically, it is an important object of this invention to provide a stop mechanism for electrically driven phonographs of that particular type which functions automatically to successively reproduce a series of stacked records, my stop mechanism becoming operative when the last of the stacked records has been delivered to the turntable of the machine, to function to stop the operation of the phonograph, after the reproduction of such record has been completed.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a stop mechanism possessing the aforesaid characteristics, which may be employed in automatic sound reproducing machines 30 of the so-called'magazine type, which are designed to operate with records of different diameters or sizes, stacked in the magazine, in any preferred relative arrangement, for delivery to the turntable of the machine.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates an automatic stop mechanism for electrically operated phonographs, as aforesaid, the operation of said mechanism being initiated in response to the free horizontal rotative movement of a control arm mounted in juxtaposition to the record magazine from which a series of stacked records are successively delivered to the turntable of the phonograph, the arm being restrained against such rotative movement in abutting engagement with the edge of the lowermost record in the magazine. The release of the last of the stacked records from the lowermost magazine position, frees the arm to rotate for initiating the functioning of a system of cam actuated and controlled levers, whereby switch mechanism for controlling the operation of the phonograph is 55 actuated to "05 position, after the last record delivered to the phonograph has been reproduced.

In United states Letters Patent No. 2,297,014 granted September 29, 1942, on my co-pending application, Serial No. 392.200, filed May 7, 1941, for "Magazine phonographs. of which this application is a continuation in part, I have shown and described an electrically operated phonograph having a record changing mechanism for successively delivering a series of stacked records to the turntable of themachine, reversing a record after one recording has been reproduced for the reproduction of the second and finally conveying the reproduced record to a storage receptacle for deposit therein, the record changing mechanism and the turntable being driven by independent motors, controlled by a master switch, with additional switch mechanism for controlling the intermittent operation of the record changing mechanism motor.

For the purposes of this disclosure, I have elected to describe the present invention more or less in detail, as it may be incorporated in a phonograph of the type described in my said copending application, in which my stop mechanism automatically functions to actuate the master switch to render the two motors non-operative, after the last record in a series stacked in the magazine has been reproduced, as heretofore outlined. However, this is merely illustrative, since, as will become evident, my invention may be employed in conjunction with other types of phonographs, having diiierent record changing mechanisms designed to accommodate the same or a greater or lesser number of records in vertically spaced relation and one or more switch mechanisms, such changes in details of structure and arrangement of co-acting parts of my stop mechanism, as may be necessary to meet production and installation requirements, being contemplated within the scope of this disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a preferred form of mechanism, automatically functioning to stop the operation of an electrically driven phonograph, as disclosed in my said application, Serial No. 392,200, in which,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a phonograph, embodying my invention, with the cooperating parts shown in the positions which they assume after final disposition of the last record.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the phonograph of Figure 1, showing a system of cams for operating the several mechanisms, including the automatic stop mechanism, the action of all of the mechanisms, obviously, being co-related.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the phonograph mechanisms, as seen with the motor board removed, the mechanisms being in stationary position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, with some parts broken away, illustrating the position of the mechanisms when the turntable and record changing mechanisms start simultaneously.

Figure 5 is a top plan view, showing part of the mechanism of Figure 3, with the switch controlling the record changing mechanism in off position, as the record reproduction is initiated.

Figure 6 is a top plan view, corresponding to Figure 3, showing the disposition of the mechanism elements, when the tone arm has moved over a record and the record changing mechanism has automatically become operative.

Figure 'l is a top plan view, similar to Figure 3, illustrating the mechanism in the position which it takes, after the last record has been reproduced and the shut-down control has been rendered operative to disconnect the motors from their source of supply.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the position of the mechanism when only one face of a record is to be reproduced.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the phonograph, with parts broken away, showing the knob for manually actuating the phonograph switch mechanisms.

Figure 10 is an enlarged side view, similar to part of Figure 2, showing the system of actuating and control cams which function in the operation of the machine and the stop mechanism.

Figure 11 is a view in perspective of the shutdown arm, in abutting engagement with the edge of a record in the lowermost magazine position, and associated operating mechanism; and

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic showing of the switch connections for controlling the operation of the turntable and record-changing motors.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 there of, the phonograph as disclosed in my aforesaid Letters .Patent is seen to comprise a pick-up arm which rests on post 3| when not in use. Pickup arm 30 is arranged above motor-board 32. A spindle 34 extends therefrom for centering the records thereon. The records are stacked in magazine 35 having a plurality of spaced vanes 36. The records are held centrally above turntable 33 by centering spindle 31 mounted in sleeve 38 on arm 40, the turntable being directly driven by the motor 200a, connected to the switch 200. Arm 40 is mounted on motor-board 32. Centering spindle 31 has an actuating knob 4| and may be pulled out from sleeve 38.

Record reversing arm 42 is rotatably mounted in sleeve 43 projecting laterally from the upper end of vertical casing 44. Casing 44 is rotatably mounted in motor-board 32. Record reversing arm 42 has a lateral extension 45 to provide an extended supporting surface to prevent the tilting of an engaged record. The rear surface of reversing arm 42 is provided with gripping pins 46 for engaging the central aperture of a record. Two elevators 41 and 43 serve to lift and lower the record on turntable 33. A record supporting arm 50 is arranged above turntable 33 for supporting the stack of records engaged with vanes 36.

A feeler arm 5| is rotatably mounted so that its roller 52 may engage the edge of a record positioned on the turntable. Feeler arm 5| serves to detect the size of the record on turntable 33, to provide for the reproduction of both 10 and 12" records.

The various cams that operate the phonograph system are illustrated in elevation in Figures 2 and 10. Shaft 60 is driven by a record changing motor 20|a through reduction gearing indicated at 6|. Pinion 62 is driven by the reduction gearing, and in turn drives gear 63 secured to shaft 60. The other end of shaft 60 is provided with a small gear 64 driving pinion 65 secured to stub shaft 66. A group of cams, generally indicated at 61, are secured to stub shaft 66. Cams 61 operate pick-up arm 30, feeler arm 5|, and the switch of the record-changing motor 20 Ia.

As long as the changer motor rotates, it will drive cams 61 through gears 62, 63 and 64, 65. Cam sleeve 69 embraces driving cam shaft 60 and may be coupled thereto by suitable clutch means indicated at 265. The cam group indicated at 10 is secured to cam sleeve 68. Cams 1|l serve to control the movements of the parts associated with the record changing mechanism and the switch 200 which functions as the master switch, as will be hereinafter described. The ratio of gears 62, 63 and 64, 65 is arranged so that cams 61 make two revolutions per cycle, while cam group 10 makes one revolution per cycle.

The records -are' successively delivered from the magazine 35 tothe turntable 33 in a downward progression of all' of the records stacked within the magazine, so that at all times and until the supply of stacked records has been exhausted, a record is located in the lowermost magazine position, from which it is next delivered to the turntable. The records are dropped one by one from said magazine 35 to the turntable, as the lowermost vane 36 is swung clear of the edge of the record disposed thereon, the remaining vanes and the records engaged therewith, moving downwardly to locate another record in the lowermost magazine position.

A shut-down control arm 53 is rotatably mounted adjacent the magazine 35 and embodies a downwardly projecting portion 53a which is adapted to abut upon the edge of a record in the lowermost magazine position, to restrain the arm from rotatlve movement in a clock-wise direction and maintain the stop mechanism in non-functioning condition during the period of operation of the phonograph, as determined by the number of records which are stacked in the magazine. When the last record is delivered from the lowermost magazine position to the turntable, the arm 53 is freed of restraint for clockwise rotation to initiate the operation of the stop mechanism, for opening the master switch 200 which controls the operation of the phonograph, when the last record delivered to the turntable has been reproduced, in the manner which will be described hereinafter in detall.

In the phonograph of my aforesaid Letters Patent, as herein shown, two motors are employed, one driving the turntable 33 and the other the record changing mechanism. These motors as herein shown, are controlled in the starting and stopping of the phonograph mechanisms by the aforesaid switch 200, connected ii. QUUWU navel-Luna to the turntable driving motor 200a and a second switch 20! which controls the periodic functioning of the motor 20|a for actuating the record changing mechanism, while the phonograph is operating. The on and "off" positions of the two switches are clearly shown in Figures 3 to 9 of the drawings. When it is desired to operate the phonograph, master switch 200 is manually actuated to closed position by means of the knob 54 shown in Figure 9, and remains in this position throughout the reproduction of the entire series of records stacked in the magazine 35, until actuated to open or off" position in response to the operation of the stop mechanism, initiated by the rotation of the arm 53, as aforesaid.

Switch 20i, controlling the motor 20la driving the record changing mechanism, is automatically closed on the completion of the reproduction of a recording, to permit of the operation of the record changing mechanism and is automatically opened at the completion of the record changing cycle. When the master switch 200 is opened after the last record of the series has been reproduced, in the functioning of the automatic stop mechanism, as hereinafter described, switch 20| remains closed or in its on" position, in order that the record changing mechanism may operate to complete the record changing cycle when master switch is again closed. preparatory to the reproduction of a new series of records.

The button of master switch 200 is operated by a bell-crank lever 204 pivoted at 205, a lever 203 having a slot 201 in engagement with a pin 205 on the bell-crank lever 204 connecting the latter lever to the arm 202, as at 203a, the said arm being pivoted to the crank 202a rigid with the shaft of the knob 54. The button of the record changing control switch 20! is operated by the lever 208 pivoted intermediate its ends at H0, and is likewise connected to the lever 203 by a lost motion coupling 2, corresponding to the lost motion connection 208. 201 between the bellcrank lever 204 and said lever 208. These lost motion connections between lever 203 and the switch button actuating levers 204 an 208, per-- mits of free automatic operation of switches 200 and 20l, while providing for conjoint manual operation thereof in response to the rotation of the knob 54, the effort being transmitted through said arm 202 and the lever 203, as will be apparent from Figure 9.

As stated, switch 20l, controlling the functioning of the record changing mechanism motor must be closed each time the reproduction of a record is completed. Th s is accomplished automatically by means of a modified switch tripping mechanism including a striker 2l3 fixed to and rotating in a clockwise direction with the turntable spindle 2l2. When tone arm 30 moves inwardly during the playing of a record, this clockwise movement is transmitted to lever H4 n the following manner: Arm l8l moves together with tone arm 30, transmitting its movement to ring I83, which is connected with lever 215 by the arm 2l5a. Lever H is pivoted to plate 2I5 as at 2l6a, the lever 2H and said plate being pivotally mounted at 2H. The lever 2M carr es an element of friction material, indicated at 2i4a, in superposed relation to the plate 218 wh ch is urged into engagement with said plate by the juxtaposed pin 2l4b traversing the slot 2'50 in said plate, so that in the positive actuation of said lever 2l5, whereby motion is transmitted to said plate M6, the lever 2 is actuated in frictional engagement with said plate. Switch-actuating lever H8 is pivoted at 220, to the free end of lever 2H, biasing spring 22l tending to urge said lever H8 in a clockwise direction in the conjoint movement of the frictionally coupled lever 2H and the plate 2l6 in opposition to said biasing spring. Hence when the needle of the pick-up moves over the record and finally runs into the usual run-ofi groove in the record, lever 2 l 8 is moved into the path of movement of striker 2l3, as shown in Figure 6. The end of switchactuating lever 2l8, opposite striker 2l3, carries a pin 222 that engages cut-out 223 of lever 208.

The engagement of striker 2|3 with switchactuating lever 2 I8 causes the latter to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, which in turn rotates lever 208 in a clockwise direction through pin 222 and slot 223. The clockwise rotation of lever 208 causes the button of switch 20l to move from the oil to the on position, closing switch 20l. (See Figure 4.) The record changing mechanism motor is consequently connected to its power supply.

When the same or another record is again in reproducing position upon the turntable 33, the switch 20l is automatically opened to disconnect the record changing mechanism motor from its power supply, to arrest the operation of such mechan sm. To this end, a pawl 224 pivoted to the end of the bell-crank lever 225, rigid with the shaft 221, is adapted to engage a ledge 225 provided on the end of the lever 208 remote from the switch 20!, in a movement of the arm 228, likewise rigid with the shaft 221. under the influence of the spring 225a connected to said bellcrank lever 225 and to a suitable fixed support, as the cam follower 228a on said lever 228 enters the dwell 230a of the cam 230 mounted on the stub shaft 85. The contracton of the spring 225a initiates a clockwise rotative movement of the bell-crank lever 225 to bring the nose of the pawl 224 into engagement w th said ledge 225, to rotate said switch lever 208 in the opposite direction and actuate the button to open switch 20l and disconnect the motor of the record changing mechanism from the source of supply. See Figure 5.

As long as pawl 224 remains in engagement with the ledge 225, the lever 208 s not operative to again close the switch 20l. However. as the cam follower 228a traverses the dwell 230a, in the succeeding operation of the cam 230, the range of clockwise movement of the bell-crank lever 225 under the control of the spring 225a is increased, bringing the free end 23! of said pawl 224 into engagement with the fixed stop 234a. to rock said pawl out of engagement with the ledge 226, as shown in Figure 5. The switch actuator lever 208 is now freed for movement to switch closing or "on position, as previously described, the cam follower 228a being traversed by the rim of the cam 230, as shown in Figure 3. to maintain said pawl 224 in non-effect ve positon, as the lever 225 is rotated anti-clockwise, in opposition to its spring 225a.

When a l of the records of a series have been reproduced and the last one has been removed from the turntable and drop ed into the storage receptacle H3, switches 200 and 20! are automatcally opened. disconnecting boti motors fr m the power supply, in response to the operation of the stop mechanism, the functioning of which is initiated by the rotation of the control arm 53 as the last record is discharged from the lowermost magazine position and the arm is freed of the restraint to such rotation imposed by its engagement with such record, prior to its discharge. This rotative movement of the arm 53 is communicated to the shaft 248 on which said arm is rigidly mounted, to produce a rotative movement of the lever 258, carrying a pin under the influence of the spring 258a connected to the lever 258 and a fixed support, the movement of the lever 258 being effective to oppositely rotate the lever 241 rigid with the shaft 248, with which said pin 25l is engaged. A second lever 245, likewise rigid with the shaft 248 and provided with a cam follower pin 245a which is traversed by the rim of the cam 243 while the arm 53 is in abutting engagement with the edge of a record, is rotated counterclockwise as the cam follower pin 245a enters the dwell 243bof the cam 243 to engage the lever 238 and effect a counter movement thereof. See Figure 11. This movement of the lever 238 disposes its projecting pin 242 in position to be traversed by the auxiliary cam surface 243a, for actuation thereby, into engagement with the abutment 248a on the lever 248 fixed to the shaft 234, the lever 238 being freely rotatable on said latter shaft, in superimposed relation to said lever 248. A spring 244 connecting the levers 238 and 248 functions to maintain the pin 242 of the former lever in engagement with the effective surface of the auxiliary cam 243a, the two levers rotating clockwise as a unit when the lever 238 is in engagement with the abutment 248a of said lever 248. (See Figure 3.)

As the pin 242 of the lever 238 is engaged with the auxiliary cam adjacent its highest point to traverse the cam surface, the shaft 234 is continuously urged in an anti-clockwise direction, under the influence of the spring 2 connected to the arm 233 which is rigid with said shaft 234. This arm 233 carries a pawl 235 pivotally mounted on the free end thereof which is disposed for engagement with the ledge 284a on the free end of the switch actuating lever 284 and as the shaft 234 continues to rotate counterclockwise under the control of the auxiliary cam in engagement with the pin 242 of the lever 238, the pawl engages with said ledge 284a to actuate said switch lever 285 to move the switch button to off position. See Figures 3 and 7. The pawl 235 is displaced from engagement with the ledge 284a, when the overthrow movement of the switch button occurs at the end of the movement of the arm 233, as the free end thereof is brought into contact with the fixed stop 231 in the termination of the movethe turntable and switch mechanism for controlment of the arm 233 under the influence of the 1 spring 233a, the action corresponding to that which obtains in the operation of switch 28 I.

When the arm 233 reaches its ultimate position in its just described anti-clockwise rotative movement, to operate switch 288 to off" position and stop the operation of the phonograph, the lever 238 which has been released from the auxiliary cam 243a, under the influence of the spring 244 is withdrawn from engagement with the abutment 248a of the lever 248 to assume its initial position, as shown in Figure 3, for the manual actuation of the master switch when the phonograph is again operated.

While I have described my invention more or less specifically with respect to a phonograph of the type shown in my aforesaid co-pending application, as will be manifest from the foregoing description, it may be employed with other sound reproducing mechanisms and embody such ling the operation of said motor; of mechanism for actuating the switch mechanism for automatically stopping the motor when the reproductiorr'of the last record delivered to the turntable has been completed, said switch-actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable element, a cam operated independently of the motor, means engageable by said cam for interposing said element in the path of said cam, a member mounted adjacent the stacked records, means for actuating said member to normally abut the lowermost record of the stack, means for displacing said member laterally when the last record is released from the stack, means actuatable in th displacement of said member to operate said means for interposing said element in the path of said cam for operation thereby to effect the rotation of said element in one direction to locate said element in position for engagement with the switch mechanism, and means for rotating said element in the opposite direction operative at a predetermined point in the operation of said cam to engage the switch mechanism and actuate said mechanism to open position to stop said motor.

2. The combination with an automatic motordriven phonograph having means for supporting a plurality of records in a stack above the turntable, and successively releasing the records to the turntable for reproduction, a motor for driving the turntable and switch mechanism for controlling the operation of said motor; of mechanism for actuating said switch mechanism for automatically stopping the motor when the reproduction of the last record released from the stack to the turntable has been completed, comprising a rotatable element, a cam operated by the motor, means engageable by said cam for interposing said element in the path of said cam, a rotatable member formed for abutting engagement with the edge of the lowermost record of the stack, means for rotating said member when the last record is released from the stack, means adapted for engagement by said member in its rotative movement to actuate said means engageable by said cam to interpose said element in the path of said cam for operation thereby to effect the rotation of said element in one direction to dispose said element in position for engagement with the switch mechanism, means for rotating said element in the opposite direction adapted to become operative at a predetermined point in the cam actuation of said element to engage the switch mechanism and actuate said mechanism to open position to stop the motor.

3. The combination with an automatic motordriven phonograph having means for supporting a stack of records above the turntable, and successively releasing the records to the turntable for reproduction, a motor for driving the turntable and switch mechanism including a switch actuating lever, for controlling the operation of said motor; of mechanism for operating said switch actuating lever for automatically stopping the motor when the reproduction of the last record released to the turntable has been completed, comprising a rotatable element, a spring-actuated pawl mounted thereon, a cam, means for driving said cam, means engageable by said cam for interposing said element in the path of said cam, a rotatable member formed for normally abutting engagement with the edge of the lowermost record of the stack, means for laterally rotating said member when the last record is released from the stack, means engageable by said member in its rotative movement to actuate said means for in terposing said element in the path of said cam for engagement with said cam for operation thereby to efiect rotation of said element in one direction to dispose said pawl in position for engagement with said switch lever, means for rotating said element in the opposite direction adapted to become operative at a predetermined point in the latter directional movement of said element to urge said pawl in opposition to its actuating spring into engagement with said switch lever and actuate said lever to open position and stop the motor, said pawl being spring actuated out of engagement with said switch lever in a con tinuing movement of said element.

4. The combination with an electrically operated phonograph having a turntable, a motor for driving the turntable, record changing mechanism, including means for successively delivering records from a stack" to'the turntable for reproduction, asecond motor'ior operating the record changing mechanism, master switch mechanism for controlling both of said motors, a second switch mechanism for controlling the operation of said record changing mechanism motor connected to said master switch, each of said switch mechanisms embodying a switch actuating lever; of mechanism for automatically stopping both of said motors when the last of the. stacked records has been delivered to the turntable and its reproduction and removal from the turntable completed,-eomprising a rotatable element, a cam driven from said second motor, means engageable by said cam for connecting said element to said cam for actuation thereby, a rotatable member formed for abutting engagement with the edge of the lowermost record of the stack, means for rotating said member after the last record is released from the stack to the turntable, means adapted for engagement by said member in its rotative movement for actuation of said connecting means into engagement with said cam for actuation thereby, to rotate said element in one direction to dispose said element in position for engagement with the actuating lever of said master switch, a connection between said latter switch actuating lever and the actuating lever of the second switch mechanism for manually operating both switch mechanisms and means for rotating said element in the opposite direction adapted to become operative at a predetermined point in the cam actuation of said element to engage the actuating lever of said master switch mechanism and actuate said latter switch mechanism to open position to render both motors inoperative.

5. The combination with an electrically operated phonograph having a record storage receptacle, a turntable, a motor for driving the turntable, record changing mechanism, including means for successively delivering records from a stack to-the turntable for reproduction, and for ,transferring reproduced records to Said'storage receptacle, a secondmotor for operating-the record-changing mechanism, a master switch mechanism for controlling both of said motors, a switch mechanism for controlling the operation of the record changing mechanism motor, each of said switch mechanisms embodying a switch actuating lever; of mechanism for automatically actuating both of said switch mechanisms to open position when the last record has been reproduced and is transferred to the storage receptacle, comprising a rotatable element, a cam operated by the second motor, means engageable by said cam for connecting said element to said cam, a rotatable member formed for abutting engagement with the edge of the lowermost record of the stack, means for rotating said member when the last record is released from the stack to the turntable, means adapted for engagement by said member in its rotative movement for actuating said connecting means into engagement with said cam for actuation thereby, to rotate said element in one direction to dispose said element in position for engagement with the actuating lever of said master switch mechanism, and means for rotating said element in the opposite direction adapted to become operative at a predetermined point in the cam actuation of said element to engage the actuating lever of said master switch mechanism to actuate said latter switch mechanism to open position to stop both motors, and means connected to said two-switch mechanisms for manually simultaneously actuating both of said switch mechanisms.

6. The combination with an electrically operated phonograph having a record storage receptacle, a turntable, a motor for driving the tumtable, a record changing mechanism, including means for successively delivering records from a stack to the turntabl for reproduction, and for transferring reproduced records to said storage receptacle, a second motor for operating the record changing mechanism, a master switch mechanism for controlling the operation of both of said motors, switch mechanism for controlling the operation of the record changing mechanism motor. each of said switch mechanisms embodying a switch actuating lever; of mechanism for automatically actuating said master switch mechanism to open position when the last record delivered to the turntable has been reproduced and transferred to said receptacle, comprising a rotatable element, carrying a spring-actuated pawl, a cam operated by said second motor, means engageable by said cam for connecting said element to said cam, a rotatable member formed for abutting engagement with the edge of the lowermost record of the stack, means for rotating said memr her when the last record is delivered from the stack to the turntable, means adapted for engagement by said member in its rotative movement for actuating said connecting means into engagement with said cam for actuation thereby, to rotate said element in one direction to dispose said pawl in position to engage with the actuating lever of said master switch mechanism, means for rotating said element in the opposite direction adapted to become operative at a predetermined point in the cam actuation of said element to urge said pawl into engagement with the actuating lever of said master switch mechanism to actuate said latter switch mechanism to open position to stop both motors, means engageable by said pawl to actuate said pawl in opposition to its spring to displace it from engagement with said master switch actuating lever when said lever has been moved to open the switch mechanism and means for manually moving said master switch actuating lever to switch closing position.

7. The combination with an automatic phonograph having a turntable. record-changing mechanism including means for supporting a stack of records above the turntable operable to successively release the records to the turntable and means for reversing the position of a record upon the turntable following the completion of the recording initially exposed for reproduction and subsequently removing the record from the turntable, a motor for driving said turntable, a second motor for operating said record-changing mechanism, a switch for controlling the functioning of said record-changing motor, and a master switch mechanism for controlling both of said motors connectable to a source of electrical energy; of mechanism for automatically stopping the operating of both of said motors when the reproduction of the last record has been completed and such record has been removed from the turntable, said latter mechanism including an oscillatably mounted member formed for abutting the edge of the lowermost record of the stack, means for rotating said member, the rotative movement oi! said member under the influence oi! said rotatin means being normally arrested by the abutment of said member against the edge of the lowermost record in the stack, a cam driven by said second motor, means for actuating said master switch mechanism to disconnect both oi. said motors from the source of energy, and means associated with said member eng'ageable with said cam in the rotative movement of said member under the influence of said member-rotating means, when the last record is released from the stack, for actuation by said cam, said latter means, in their cam-actuated movement, engaging said master switch mechanism-actuating means to operate said master switch mechanism to disconnect the two motors from the source of energy.

FRANCIS JOHN OFFEN. 

